Flow-meter.



v 1. A1 SIMMONS.

7 now METER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13 I914.

Patented 001. 12, 1915.

ull/ Ill/A7141 a h lnl A In vh'wverwtpr: Lawrenceoqfilmmons,

Hisaqttorngg Witnesses:

UNITED srA'rEs FATENT on on. I

LAWRENCE A. snvnvrous, or SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A'CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

FLOW-METER. Y I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. SIM-'7 MONS, a citizenof the United States, r'esiding at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flow-Meters, of which-the following is a specification.

My invention relates to flow meters, and particularly to such instruments of the type wherein the flow of fluid ,is measured by measuring the energy required to hold a body or radiator subjected to the action of the flowing fluid being, metered at a fixed temperature.

If 'a body or radiator maintained at a fixed temperature by suitable means be subjected to the action of a flowing fluid, there will be a transfer of heat between the same, the quantity of which will be practically proportional to the rate of flow of the fluid.

By measuring, therefore, the energy required to maintain the body or radiatorat constant temperature the rate of flow can be determined.

In an apparatus of this character, it is ob. viously of primary importance" that the radiator be -maintained at the fixed constant temperature selected, and. hence suitable means must be provided to indicate accuan instrument of the above referred to type an electrically heated resistance is aux-advantageous formof radiator as thesame can temperature of the resistance antl keeping it constant. Considerable difficulty has beenencountered, however, in accurately measuring the resistance andv holding it constant due to the variables introduced with variations in flow, it being obvious, for example, that a, slight drop in temperature due to an increase in flow would lower both the temperature of the resistanceelement and also its resistance. It has also been found by actual experience that the resistance of the conductor tends to change from timefto time,

rately the temperature of the radiator. In

.PQ of'flie rosssection.

Patented o r. 12, 1915.

Application f led January 13, 1914, Serial No. 811,853.

due probably, to the action of the fluid thereon. This has necessitated the frequentcalibration of instrument.

The object of my present invention is to provide an instrument using an electric conductor as the radiator,in Ywhich the means for indicating the temperature'is independ ent of the resistance value of the radiator.

Referring to'the drawing wherein I have illustrated certain forms which my invention may take, Figure 1 shows my invention applied to a conduit through which the fluid to be metered flows; Fig. 2 shows a second form of my invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 are wiring diagrams showing the manner of connecting the forms of the invention as shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 5 indicates the conduit through which the .fluid :to be me.- te'red flows. This. may be steam, air, or other-fluid. A suitable opening 6 is formed in the tube into which is threaded a plug 7 which forms a support for the radiator 8. The support as Well as'the radiator may take various forms; In the form illustrated, I

'. have shown the plug 7 as having a central bore 9 counterbored as shown at 9 Passing through the bore 9 is a tube 10, prefer ably formed of some material which is an v electrical conductor JThe outer end of the tube is supported in .spaced relation to the plug 7 by means of the flange 11 and insuating washers 12 clamped in place by the hollow nut 13. These washers 12 are preferablyformed of a heat resisting material as asbestos. The lower end of the tube is supported'by the insulating bushing 14 on cross piece 15 which in turn is carried by the posts 16 threaded at one end into the plug 7 By thisarran'gem'ent' the tube ,10 is insulated from the conduit and plug and may form one circuit terminal ,17 of the resistance 8, the other-terminal being grounded on the conduit as shown at 18. The portion of the. tube 10 which is within the conduit is cove cred with a suitable coatingof insulating material 19 and upon this is arranged the resistancev 8, the same being shown as wound tially across the conduit, this being desirable since the velocity of flow varies at difierent thereon in the form of a helix and preferably-of such a length as to extend substan-.

"and 23 which may be connected'with any power, the rate of flow maybe-read from' suitable source of power. An adjustable resistance 2a is arranged in one of the conduc tors, 21. A suitable instrument for indi cating the power supplied to the resistance 8 is connected up with the circuit. As a simple example I have illustrated a'n ammeter and a voltmeter from the readings of which the power maybe deduced. Knowing the suitable tables 'or curves. Obviously I may use any known form of instrument which will answer the purpose. As a means for indicating the temperature of theradiator 8 I insert through the outer open'end of the.

tube 10 a suitable thermometer. This thermometer may be an ordinarymercury ther-' mometer as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and it may be read directly, or I may use a suitable form of electrical indicating means in con-v nection therewith as shown in Fig. .3. Such indicators are well known and'I have, there: fore, illustrated the same diagrammatically as comprising a series of indicatorsas lights 25, connected on one .side to spaced points on the thermometer corresponding to given temperatures and on the other to the contacts. of switch 26.' The switch arm of switch 26 is connected to one terminal of battery 27, the other terminal being connected as at 28 to the mercury in the bulb of the thermometer. As many of these lights may be provided as founddesirable.

' In the. operation of the arrangement shown in-Figs. 1 and-3, the thermometer having been inserted inside tube 10, the re-' sistance24 is adjusted until the thermometer indicates "that the desired temperature for the radiator 8 has been reached. Resistance 24. will then be adjusted; from time to time as changes in the flow occur to hold this desired temperature.

Referring now to using the tube 10 as one terminal for radiator '8 I provide a separate terminal. 17 in the form of a rod suitably spaced and insu-' lated from plug as shown,and 'I have accordingly applied the same reference numerals to corresponding parts in Fig. 2 as the resistance of the radiator. is also protected from any action by the By determining the,

power supplied to the-radiator 8 at any in-- stant the amount of steam flow can; be deduced therefrom.

scale calibrated to read temperature direct.

In either of the forms of my invention as illustrated the means for measuring the temperaturev of the radiator is independent of Such means flowingfluid to be metered, being inclosed "within the tube about which the radiator is coiled. By this arrangement I obtain an accurate measurement of the temperature of the rad ator in a .simple andreliable man- In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with: the-apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;

but-I desire to have it understood that the L In-a flow meter, a conduit, a heat radiatingelement therein so arranged that there is a. transfer of heat between it and the flowing stream of fluid, a source supplying energy to the radiating element-to heat the same, means for regulating the supply from said source to maintain the radiating element substantially at a constant temperature, means independent of the radiating element and the flowing stream of fluid but subjected to the temperature of the radiating element for measuring the temperature of g the radiating element, and means for measurelement.

2. In a flow meter, a" conduit,

ing the energy supplied to the heat radiating ment therein, a source .of electrical energy connected to the'resistance, means for regulatingthe supply from said source, means an electrical resistance forming a heat radiating ele- Fi 2, the. structural arrangement shown is su stantially the same as that in Fig. 1 except that in ,place offor-measuring the-energy supplied'thereto,

and means independent of the resistance value of the electrical'resista'nce element but subjected to the temperature thereof for indicating the temperature of the electrical resistance. d

3. In a flow meter, a conduit, anelectrical resistance forming a heat radiator therein, said electrical resistance being arranged asfa tubular member, a source of electrical energy connected to the resistance, means for regulating the supply from said source, means for measuring "the energy supplied to the resistance, and a temperature udicating device inserted into the tubular member. tube for indicating the temperature of said 10 4. In a flow meter, a tube adapted to be resistance.

inserted into the path of "flow of a fluid, an In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set electrical resistance arranged on said tube my hand this 12th day of January, 1914.

and forming a heat radiator, a source of LAWRENCE A SIMMONS electrical energy connected to the resistance,

means for regulating the supply from said Witnesses:

source, means for measuring the energy sup- MARGARET E. WOOLI H,

plied to said resistance, and means in said HELEN ORFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

